Hua Yu Wee (华友园) is the last standing seafood restaurant along Upper East Coast Road, an area that used to be populated by many seafood restaurants which have now all shifted to East Coast Park, save for this sole survivor. I remember eating at this restaurant with my relatives from time to time as a kid when there were occasions for celebration.
Hua Yu occupies an old colonial bunglow that has been converted into a restaurant and offers both al fresco and airconditioned dining areas. The interior is homely with its white washed walls but noise is a big problem here as the area is enclosed and with so many conversations going on at the same time, you might really have to raise your voice a little to be heard.
Homemade Tofu - The tofu was quite good. A little crisp on the outside yet soft and quivery on the inside. The layer of compacted spinach and dried scallop shreds atop provided a nice savoury taste to the tofu while the golden mushrooms and enoki gave it that extra bite.
Stir Fried Dou Miao - I thought that the dou miao fried with garlic was a little too bland and a dash of salt would have been much appreciated. On the upside, it wasn't overcooked, which sealed in the flavour and texture of this vegetable.
Salted Egg Pork Ribs - Interestingly, this is the first time I've eaten pork ribs coated with salted egg yolk and deep fried. And it didn't really impress me much. For starters, the taste of the egg yolk was rather faint and overall the ribs were bland. To compound matters, the ribs didn't taste fresh, more like frozen products really. Judging from the colour of the ribs (red), I believe duck eggs were used.
Black Pepper Crayfish - $14 for 2 small crayfish halved up into 4 pieces is definitely a no go. But to give it credit, the crayfish was fresh and the meat firm. However I did think that the pepper taste was overwhelming, threatening to numb my tastebuds.
The 3 of us chalked up a bill of $53 which is decent enough for the food quality. Standards seemed to have dropped significantly since the last time I visited about 10 years ago but that seems to be the trend everywhere! I doubt I'll be back though. Adiós my old friend.
A Tudor-style dining place with waitresses dolled in French maids outfits, stepping into Angus Steakhouse, located at a corner of Ngee Ann City 4th level, is akin to entering into a time-wrapped. One will find piped-in Muzak piano to give the place a rustic, quaint yet comforting character. However, one might want to avoid seating near the open kitchen, as it might get too greasy and smoky from the fumes.
Dinner was underway with the complimentary bread and butter – served warm, crusty on the outside and fluffy on the inside, a spread of the Japanese soft butter seeks to enhance the best of this simple yet wonderful dough.
The appetiser, that was part of the set dinner, which initially thought to be Vietnamese Rice-paper Roll by all of us, was given a magnificent twist – prawns were battered and deep fried, coupled by a hint of Japanese mayo, instantaneously brought the plain old boring rice-paper roll back to life. The harmony between the crusty prawn and crunchy greens was simply delightful – so much so that it prompted my mum to comment that the serving wasn’t enough.
½ dozen of Fresh Live Oysters ($18.00) served chilled were fresh and plump – no complains here as HFB thinks this is how oysters should be served. A wrench of lemon, a drip of Tabasco sauce, and a big slurp completes this simple yet always pleasing dish.
The Carrot Soup, again part of the set dinner, was subtle with a tint of sweetness from this root vegetable. We all agreed that it could be slightly more salted for a more robust taste as the cream seeks to overwhelm the flavour towards the end.
Garden Salad, provided along with the set dinner, was drizzled in Japanese Sesame Dressing – uncomplicated dish.
After a series of starters, the main lead finally arrived – 200gm Ribeye Steak ($53.50 for a set dinner). Doneness of the steak was partially achieved, some parts came in medium rare as how HFB would want it to be, but other parts were significantly medium-well to well done.
But no complains from me this time round as the steak was still tender and marbled with fats. Paired with a slab of herb butter, this steak was slightly velvety and smooth to consume. However, what I find objectionable was the cut of beef soaked in brimming, what seemed like brown sauce with radish. Not too sure whether that was deliberate, or a result of juices from a not so rested piece of steak.
Dessert for the night was a small slice of Tiramisu. Not the best, but what HFB like was that it was well laden with the alcohol – not too overwhelming yet strong enough to taste.
Dinner was completed not with wine this time round, but Asahi Draft Beer ($8.50) instead, served in a nice vintage-looking bronze metal cup.
You can view the all photos and other reviews HERE.
Lau Pa Sat or Telok Ayer Market, holds a very special meaning for most Singaporeans. The distinctive clock tower on top, the unique, octagonal and intricate roof structure of the building. Not to mention the many mouth-watering food which showcase a wide variety of our Singapore culture.
Having said all that, i’m didn’t frequent Lau Pa Sat often, why you asked, since i praised the place to the sky. Well, i felt that it’s more like a tourist attraction kind of place rather than a food centre to me. And because of the tourist crowd and the over-hype in the place, prices are obviously much higher than other places. Therefore even i was working in the vicinity last time, but i rather go to other places for lunch.
Nonetheless, having heard some good reviews about a particular burger stall from Philippines setting up shop in the midst of Lau Pa Sat, and I was meeting a friend who was working in the CDB area, so we decided to go to Lau Pa Sat for lunch!
Hotshots does have a rather impressive menu of burgers considering that their’s a small store in Lau Pa Sat. I was in a dilemma over which burger to get, so i just randomly picked the Cheeseburger deluxe.
They took quite some time in preparing the burger on the spot, around 5-10 minutes or so.
French Fries ($3) I also ordered french fries for side since Hotshots didn’t have any set meals and just came with a lone burger. For fries that cost 3 bucks, I definitely expected better. Their fries was average, there’s no “wow” factor, which failed to justify the high price for a small miserable packet of fries.
Cheeseburger Deluxe ($5.50) On first sight, the Cheeseburger deluxe was kind of smaller than what i imagined, since the word deluxe implied another meaning. The sesame seed bun was kind of too soft, i’ll preferred those that are slightly toasted which gave a firmer characteristic to the burger. Presentation-wise also didn’t quite make the cut, the ingredients were hasty organised, and everything dropped out easily. A Messy affair!
The beef patty was not bad, rather juicy although it might look a tad dry on the outside. But still, i lamanted the fact their patty’s kind of too thin, which didn’t provide the “kick”when you took a bite in the burger. Nonetheless, you can’t compare this with Relish’s gourmet burger, given the disparity in prices.But i think it edged out Seah Street Deli’s rendition.
Total Bill was $8.50 for a burger and fries. I think i made the wrong choice in burger, maybe i’ll go back again to try their Real Bleu cheeseburger, or the crispy burgermelt. But for now, i still favoured the one that i had at Epicurious.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
i cant get enough of bangkok. even though i went there more than 10 times. and there are even times id be lying in the hotel not knowing what to do next. chatuchack, siam sq siam centre, mbk blah blah all been there done that.
but when i finally dragged my feet down to chatuchak, the adrenaline started flowing again. CHIONG!! haha all the bargains and some new things they came up with.
for personal preference, i like to drink at the road side, cocktails sold at cheap prices by a van, and they'll provide the chairs n tables. cheap and new experience.
another one is banyan tree's top level bar called the vertigo. i know its similar to another top level bar in bkk but i totally prefer this one!
i think ill never get tired of thailand in the long run aha
i had a bad experience with airasia where i bought a pair of promo tickets for my mum and one at the beginning of the year.
when the date is coming nearer, i realised i couldnt make it and ask if i could change the name to another relative of mine. if im not wrong, i called in march and the scheduled flight was in aug.
the lady on the phone told me i could and will take a note. she told me to go down to the airport when the date comes nearer and staff at the airport will assist me.
i went down to the airport and the lady told me its impossible to change the name as its bought during a promotion. and when i told her about the operator saying i could, the airport lady checked the computer and say no related memo is in the systems. i was so fed up as my mum was supposed to leave in a week's time and i cant possibily leave her to go there alone.
so i called back to the operator site and wanted to lodge a complain. i was transferred and transferred and just couldnt get through the complain line.
in the end my relative had to buy a cathay ticket to bangkok and the airasia one, being last time, their price is even more expensive than airasia! and there goes my 200 dollars worth of air tic!
Basilico at The Regent Singapore is named after basil, a humble perennial herb that is featured prominently in Italian cuisine. This two month old Italian restaurant, which took over the now defunct Capers, is helmed by 3 Italians - Executive Chef Claudio Rossi, Restaurant Chef Angelo Ciccone and Pizza Chef Carmine Esposito, who hail from northern and southern Italy.
Located on the second level of this prestigious Four Seasons hotel, Basilico's interior is designed by renowned Japanese architect Yasuhiro Koichi and dazzles with its centrepiece crystal chandelier and circular open space dining concept which houses three open kitchens - antipasto, the hot kitchen and pasticceria (desserts). For those who wish to dine al fresco, there is the option of dining by the pool.
Complimentary Bread - I thought that the focaccia was quite decent, just a tad cold when served, which made it a little dry and hard on the outside. But I did like the slightly chewy texture it carried and of course the interesting repertoire of dips that came alongside, with the most notable one being mascarpone cheese, which can usually be found in tiramisu. The sheets of cheese crackers came across as rather average though.
Cacciucco di Pesce (Fresh Seafood in Lobster and Tomato Stew) - The lobster and tomato stew was rich in flavours yet did not overwhelm, making for a nice savoury soup with a tinge of spice. The servings of scallops, prawns and squid cubes were relatively generous as a whole, which was definitely a step in the right direction.
Focaccia Pita - I couldn't quite catch the name of this dish but it is, beyond a doubt, the shining star of the evening. Made with focaccia and stuffed with black truffle and mascarpone cheese, it looked anything but asthetically pleasing. However, the charmer came in the form of its considerably thin crust that had a nice chewy texture to it. Throw in a nice and light creamily cheesy undertone sans the nausea and you get an excellent pita dish.
Pizza Prosciutto - To be very honest, I thought the pizza was quite good but certainly not to the extent of outstanding. Granted, the crust was thin and baked to a crisp golden brown with the parma ham lightly smokey. But the pizza did seem a little bland overall. There was a harmonious cohesion amongst the ingredients but that failed to ignite any sparks (aka boring).
Risotto alla Pugliese - The risotto didn't quite do it for me as the arborio rice came across as a tad too hard for my liking. If its any consolation, the servings of diced lobster, prawn, scallop and asparagus were generous to say the least. I do wonder about the green foam atop though.
Wagyu Beef - Grilled to medium rare as per my request, the wagyu failed to impress. That's not to say it wasn't any good, just that I'm rather picky when it comes to steak. The beef carried an oily aftertaste that was quite prominent and invoked nausea. The steak sauce that came alongside wasn't really effective in masking the oily taste even though it carried a noticable amount of alcohol. On the upside, this was a quality piece of meat, which was naturally sweet and succulent with a proportionate amount of fats.
Semifreddo al Torroncino - I thought that the almond parfait was quite good with a consistently smooth and creamy texture which had bits of almond in it. The stewed sour cherries below provided a much needed jolt to tingle my jaded senses.
Apple Tart with Marsala Cream - Personally I felt that the apple tart was rather normal as the crust was a bit too dry but lightly buttery. The apple slices were bland and the marsala cream provided the alcoholic content.
Fig Tart - I dislike figs but surprisingly the crust was different from that of the apple tart, coming across as moist and leaning a little towards crumble. Personally I prefered this crust over that of the apple tart.
Raspberry Panna Cotta - One of the more unusual panna cottas I've come across so far, Basilico's rendition tasted more like mousse with an almond jelly aftertaste. Certainly not what I would expect from a good panna cotta.
The meal ended with a glass of groppino, which is essentially a lemon sorbet, champagne, mint and vodka concoction that is supposed to help you digest. I'm not sure it did the trick for me though.
All in all the meal was rather satisfying except for the desserts, which fell rather flat in my humble opinion. I'm not exactly sure how prices are like because the meal was complimentary, courtesy of HGW. I'm sure that in time, with some tweaks here and there, Basilico will be able to hold its own against the likes of other well know Italian restaurants like Senso, Garibaldi, Il Lido etc.
Heard quite a fair bit about Ah Chiang's porridge, which is situated amongst the conservation area of Tiong Bahru and boasts a rich history dating back to 1971. The various media appearances are seemingly testament to its honest to goodness bowls of porridge which are painstakingly cooked over a charcoal stove.
Occupying a corner unit, Ah Chiang's can take about 30 people or so and tables are on a first come first serve basis, very much like any mom and pop coffee shops around. On both occasions that I went, at 1230pm on a Saturday and 1030am on a Sunday, seats were readily available but I understand that long waits are to be expected especially in the morning.
Intestine Porridge with Meatballs & Century Egg Porridge with Chicken - At $5.50, this was a rather expensive bowl of porridge. The focus was undoubtedly on the porridge, which came across as smooth with bits of grains and didn't seem too starchy. The quantity of ingredients were acceptable at best and if it wasn't for the extra meatballs, the intestines alone would have been a sorry sight. Not that the meatballs or intestines tasted fantastic anyways. I could also detect MSG in the porridge, but I guess that's rather common in porridge nowadays. The bowl of century egg porridge cost slightly lesser, at $4.50 for a sprinkling of century egg and chicken slices. As with the previous dish, the porridge itself was the star while the century egg and chicken slices were merely average.
Honestly, I found the porridge quite decent overall, just that prices are a tad too steep.
MYnt is blogshop worthy of visiting simple because of the owner's honesty and humility.
Some other blogshop owners think that they are "high and mighty" just because they can make accessories that people want to buy, and many times, even a small request for changes would be turned down and rejected using the "I would like to preserve my artistic dignity" approach. But this is not the case for MYnt.
I'm not saying that she doesn't protect the rights to alter her work, but she's very nice about it. I took a liking to a pair of earrings but they were 9cm in length which was too long for me, so i asked if she would shorten it to 6cm and even add another shorter 4cm chain. She very kindly did it and sent me a photo of how it looked after alterations.
Best of all, she didn't try to increase the price of the item! Many other blogshop owners will increase the price as long as something even as small as a 4cm length of chains is being added. I think that isn't a very nice thing to do. Which is why i'm commending MYnt for her kindness and for being un-calculative over such matters.
I also ordered another necklace from her. Typically, based on comparisons with several other blogshops that i visit regularly, the necklace i purchased (refer to the 4th photo) could cost from $35 to $48 because of the uniqueness of the design and the various materials used. However, MYnt only charges $15 for the necklace! It looked like something from Betsy Johnson's past-season collection which i was in love with but didn't manage to get! So i knew i HAD to have it!
I like her blogshop because the only thing that's editted are the wordings. Other than that, the photos aren't drastically brightened just to make the accessories look better than they are, which i really appreciate, cuz it can suck when accessories look better on the computer screen and you get so disappointed when you receive it and see it as what it really is. I was very pleased with my purchase when i received them! They actually looked a tiny bit better than in photos.
After i paid the owner, she even thanked me vociferously for supporting the blogshop and that's something that very very few blogshop owners do. And for that, i WILL carry on patronizing MYnt, cuz i think she deserves it.
Do visit MYnt soon! Nice and chic accessories at very affordable prices... you don't even have to think twice about it!
I was introduced to laneige after seeing some online craze about its water bank series. furthermore, the prices are much cheaper than the original products i was using and thus i switched my stuff to laneige.
i used it for several weeks when one of my friend who worked as a pharmacist saw my products and told me that the ingredients used are very harmful to skin. some of them includes artificial colouring, fragrance, preservatives and alcohol, and it seems like they have used it in large amount in the products. i did some further research online and was quite traumatized by the information i gathered. some ingredients are also used in some car engines?
i immediately called my friend whom i heard was a fan of laneige and was hoping to get some reassurance from her that i was just being too paranoid.
however, she told me that she had an outbreak months back and got some acne products from laneige. and it made the situation worse and she has since stopped using products from the brand. she told me her skin doctor said the initial outbreak could be due to harmful ingredients with her skincare products, causing underlying problems which can only happen after long usage of the products. and she mentioned that her doctor 'hinted' that it could also be due to laneige that causes her situation to get worse after looking through the ingredients.
till now her outbreak has not been cleared and she has been thousands of dollars trying to save her face by seeing some popular skin doctors.
i refuse to take the risk and threw away all my items from laneige. i may be saving money for the time being but who knows i may be like my friend spending much more to solve the skin problems aggrevated.
i know there are still fans of the brand around but im just sharing my opinions
Phins is one of the place i frequent when i have craving for steaks coz frankly their food is quite alright with reasonable pricing. even though id say that their variety of food other than steaks are quite limited.
Phins @ tampines usually provide pretty efficient services. i do not have to take long to be seated. and food are being served quite quickly.
pricing are alright as the most premium grade beef usually only cost about $30.
generally i think the only but strong attraction point of phins to me is their steak. subsequently their services.
however, there are some cons id have to mention. their medium rare is always not medium rare. hah. it usually come in just medium and its just not as shiok as i wanted it to be.
secondly, theres a particular new waiter who is quite annoying. i wanted to 'upsize' my side dish and top up the amount. i politely ask the waiter if its possible even though i know it IS, from past experience.
but he gave me a super puzzled look and told me its not possible. i further asked him if hes sure and he tried to give me a firm no.
i understand that hes new and he might not know everything so soon. however, id appreciate that he check things out if hes unsure, and not to try to 'entertain' me without finding out.
i had to order from the waiter that i usually place my order with to get what i want :(
1=SGD 0.0587
Hua Yu Wee (华友园) is the last standing seafood restaurant along Upper East Coast Road, an area that used to be populated by many seafood restaurants which have now all shifted to East Coast Park, save for this sole survivor. I remember eating at this restaurant with my relatives from time to time as a kid when there were occasions for celebration.
Hua Yu occupies an old colonial bunglow that has been converted into a restaurant and offers both al fresco and airconditioned dining areas. The interior is homely with its white washed walls but noise is a big problem here as the area is enclosed and with so many conversations going on at the same time, you might really have to raise your voice a little to be heard.
Homemade Tofu - The tofu was quite good. A little crisp on the outside yet soft and quivery on the inside. The layer of compacted spinach and dried scallop shreds atop provided a nice savoury taste to the tofu while the golden mushrooms and enoki gave it that extra bite.
Stir Fried Dou Miao - I thought that the dou miao fried with garlic was a little too bland and a dash of salt would have been much appreciated. On the upside, it wasn't overcooked, which sealed in the flavour and texture of this vegetable.
Salted Egg Pork Ribs - Interestingly, this is the first time I've eaten pork ribs coated with salted egg yolk and deep fried. And it didn't really impress me much. For starters, the taste of the egg yolk was rather faint and overall the ribs were bland. To compound matters, the ribs didn't taste fresh, more like frozen products really. Judging from the colour of the ribs (red), I believe duck eggs were used.
Black Pepper Crayfish - $14 for 2 small crayfish halved up into 4 pieces is definitely a no go. But to give it credit, the crayfish was fresh and the meat firm. However I did think that the pepper taste was overwhelming, threatening to numb my tastebuds.
The 3 of us chalked up a bill of $53 which is decent enough for the food quality. Standards seemed to have dropped significantly since the last time I visited about 10 years ago but that seems to be the trend everywhere! I doubt I'll be back though. Adiós my old friend.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
A Tudor-style dining place with waitresses dolled in French maids outfits, stepping into Angus Steakhouse, located at a corner of Ngee Ann City 4th level, is akin to entering into a time-wrapped. One will find piped-in Muzak piano to give the place a rustic, quaint yet comforting character. However, one might want to avoid seating near the open kitchen, as it might get too greasy and smoky from the fumes.
Dinner was underway with the complimentary bread and butter – served warm, crusty on the outside and fluffy on the inside, a spread of the Japanese soft butter seeks to enhance the best of this simple yet wonderful dough.
The appetiser, that was part of the set dinner, which initially thought to be Vietnamese Rice-paper Roll by all of us, was given a magnificent twist – prawns were battered and deep fried, coupled by a hint of Japanese mayo, instantaneously brought the plain old boring rice-paper roll back to life. The harmony between the crusty prawn and crunchy greens was simply delightful – so much so that it prompted my mum to comment that the serving wasn’t enough.
½ dozen of Fresh Live Oysters ($18.00) served chilled were fresh and plump – no complains here as HFB thinks this is how oysters should be served. A wrench of lemon, a drip of Tabasco sauce, and a big slurp completes this simple yet always pleasing dish.
The Carrot Soup, again part of the set dinner, was subtle with a tint of sweetness from this root vegetable. We all agreed that it could be slightly more salted for a more robust taste as the cream seeks to overwhelm the flavour towards the end.
Garden Salad, provided along with the set dinner, was drizzled in Japanese Sesame Dressing – uncomplicated dish.
After a series of starters, the main lead finally arrived – 200gm Ribeye Steak ($53.50 for a set dinner). Doneness of the steak was partially achieved, some parts came in medium rare as how HFB would want it to be, but other parts were significantly medium-well to well done.
But no complains from me this time round as the steak was still tender and marbled with fats. Paired with a slab of herb butter, this steak was slightly velvety and smooth to consume. However, what I find objectionable was the cut of beef soaked in brimming, what seemed like brown sauce with radish. Not too sure whether that was deliberate, or a result of juices from a not so rested piece of steak.
Dessert for the night was a small slice of Tiramisu. Not the best, but what HFB like was that it was well laden with the alcohol – not too overwhelming yet strong enough to taste.
Dinner was completed not with wine this time round, but Asahi Draft Beer ($8.50) instead, served in a nice vintage-looking bronze metal cup.
You can view the all photos and other reviews HERE.
Rating given:
Lau Pa Sat or Telok Ayer Market, holds a very special meaning for most Singaporeans. The distinctive clock tower on top, the unique, octagonal and intricate roof structure of the building. Not to mention the many mouth-watering food which showcase a wide variety of our Singapore culture.
Having said all that, i’m didn’t frequent Lau Pa Sat often, why you asked, since i praised the place to the sky. Well, i felt that it’s more like a tourist attraction kind of place rather than a food centre to me. And because of the tourist crowd and the over-hype in the place, prices are obviously much higher than other places. Therefore even i was working in the vicinity last time, but i rather go to other places for lunch.
Nonetheless, having heard some good reviews about a particular burger stall from Philippines setting up shop in the midst of Lau Pa Sat, and I was meeting a friend who was working in the CDB area, so we decided to go to Lau Pa Sat for lunch!
Hotshots does have a rather impressive menu of burgers considering that their’s a small store in Lau Pa Sat. I was in a dilemma over which burger to get, so i just randomly picked the Cheeseburger deluxe.
They took quite some time in preparing the burger on the spot, around 5-10 minutes or so.
French Fries ($3)
I also ordered french fries for side since Hotshots didn’t have any set meals and just came with a lone burger. For fries that cost 3 bucks, I definitely expected better. Their fries was average, there’s no “wow” factor, which failed to justify the high price for a small miserable packet of fries.
Cheeseburger Deluxe ($5.50)
On first sight, the Cheeseburger deluxe was kind of smaller than what i imagined, since the word deluxe implied another meaning. The sesame seed bun was kind of too soft, i’ll preferred those that are slightly toasted which gave a firmer characteristic to the burger. Presentation-wise also didn’t quite make the cut, the ingredients were hasty organised, and everything dropped out easily. A Messy affair!
The beef patty was not bad, rather juicy although it might look a tad dry on the outside. But still, i lamanted the fact their patty’s kind of too thin, which didn’t provide the “kick”when you took a bite in the burger. Nonetheless, you can’t compare this with Relish’s gourmet burger, given the disparity in prices.But i think it edged out Seah Street Deli’s rendition.
Total Bill was $8.50 for a burger and fries. I think i made the wrong choice in burger, maybe i’ll go back again to try their Real Bleu cheeseburger, or the crispy burgermelt. But for now, i still favoured the one that i had at Epicurious.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Rating given:
i cant get enough of bangkok. even though i went there more than 10 times. and there are even times id be lying in the hotel not knowing what to do next. chatuchack, siam sq siam centre, mbk blah blah all been there done that.
but when i finally dragged my feet down to chatuchak, the adrenaline started flowing again. CHIONG!! haha all the bargains and some new things they came up with.
for personal preference, i like to drink at the road side, cocktails sold at cheap prices by a van, and they'll provide the chairs n tables. cheap and new experience.
another one is banyan tree's top level bar called the vertigo. i know its similar to another top level bar in bkk but i totally prefer this one!
i think ill never get tired of thailand in the long run aha
Rating given:
i had a bad experience with airasia where i bought a pair of promo tickets for my mum and one at the beginning of the year.
when the date is coming nearer, i realised i couldnt make it and ask if i could change the name to another relative of mine. if im not wrong, i called in march and the scheduled flight was in aug.
the lady on the phone told me i could and will take a note. she told me to go down to the airport when the date comes nearer and staff at the airport will assist me.
i went down to the airport and the lady told me its impossible to change the name as its bought during a promotion. and when i told her about the operator saying i could, the airport lady checked the computer and say no related memo is in the systems. i was so fed up as my mum was supposed to leave in a week's time and i cant possibily leave her to go there alone.
so i called back to the operator site and wanted to lodge a complain. i was transferred and transferred and just couldnt get through the complain line.
in the end my relative had to buy a cathay ticket to bangkok and the airasia one, being last time, their price is even more expensive than airasia! and there goes my 200 dollars worth of air tic!
Rating given:
Basilico at The Regent Singapore is named after basil, a humble perennial herb that is featured prominently in Italian cuisine. This two month old Italian restaurant, which took over the now defunct Capers, is helmed by 3 Italians - Executive Chef Claudio Rossi, Restaurant Chef Angelo Ciccone and Pizza Chef Carmine Esposito, who hail from northern and southern Italy.
Located on the second level of this prestigious Four Seasons hotel, Basilico's interior is designed by renowned Japanese architect Yasuhiro Koichi and dazzles with its centrepiece crystal chandelier and circular open space dining concept which houses three open kitchens - antipasto, the hot kitchen and pasticceria (desserts). For those who wish to dine al fresco, there is the option of dining by the pool.
Complimentary Bread - I thought that the focaccia was quite decent, just a tad cold when served, which made it a little dry and hard on the outside. But I did like the slightly chewy texture it carried and of course the interesting repertoire of dips that came alongside, with the most notable one being mascarpone cheese, which can usually be found in tiramisu. The sheets of cheese crackers came across as rather average though.
Cacciucco di Pesce (Fresh Seafood in Lobster and Tomato Stew) - The lobster and tomato stew was rich in flavours yet did not overwhelm, making for a nice savoury soup with a tinge of spice. The servings of scallops, prawns and squid cubes were relatively generous as a whole, which was definitely a step in the right direction.
Focaccia Pita - I couldn't quite catch the name of this dish but it is, beyond a doubt, the shining star of the evening. Made with focaccia and stuffed with black truffle and mascarpone cheese, it looked anything but asthetically pleasing. However, the charmer came in the form of its considerably thin crust that had a nice chewy texture to it. Throw in a nice and light creamily cheesy undertone sans the nausea and you get an excellent pita dish.
Pizza Prosciutto - To be very honest, I thought the pizza was quite good but certainly not to the extent of outstanding. Granted, the crust was thin and baked to a crisp golden brown with the parma ham lightly smokey. But the pizza did seem a little bland overall. There was a harmonious cohesion amongst the ingredients but that failed to ignite any sparks (aka boring).
Risotto alla Pugliese - The risotto didn't quite do it for me as the arborio rice came across as a tad too hard for my liking. If its any consolation, the servings of diced lobster, prawn, scallop and asparagus were generous to say the least. I do wonder about the green foam atop though.
Wagyu Beef - Grilled to medium rare as per my request, the wagyu failed to impress. That's not to say it wasn't any good, just that I'm rather picky when it comes to steak. The beef carried an oily aftertaste that was quite prominent and invoked nausea. The steak sauce that came alongside wasn't really effective in masking the oily taste even though it carried a noticable amount of alcohol. On the upside, this was a quality piece of meat, which was naturally sweet and succulent with a proportionate amount of fats.
Semifreddo al Torroncino - I thought that the almond parfait was quite good with a consistently smooth and creamy texture which had bits of almond in it. The stewed sour cherries below provided a much needed jolt to tingle my jaded senses.
Apple Tart with Marsala Cream - Personally I felt that the apple tart was rather normal as the crust was a bit too dry but lightly buttery. The apple slices were bland and the marsala cream provided the alcoholic content.
Fig Tart - I dislike figs but surprisingly the crust was different from that of the apple tart, coming across as moist and leaning a little towards crumble. Personally I prefered this crust over that of the apple tart.
Raspberry Panna Cotta - One of the more unusual panna cottas I've come across so far, Basilico's rendition tasted more like mousse with an almond jelly aftertaste. Certainly not what I would expect from a good panna cotta.
The meal ended with a glass of groppino, which is essentially a lemon sorbet, champagne, mint and vodka concoction that is supposed to help you digest. I'm not sure it did the trick for me though.
All in all the meal was rather satisfying except for the desserts, which fell rather flat in my humble opinion. I'm not exactly sure how prices are like because the meal was complimentary, courtesy of HGW. I'm sure that in time, with some tweaks here and there, Basilico will be able to hold its own against the likes of other well know Italian restaurants like Senso, Garibaldi, Il Lido etc.
See all my pictures here.
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Heard quite a fair bit about Ah Chiang's porridge, which is situated amongst the conservation area of Tiong Bahru and boasts a rich history dating back to 1971. The various media appearances are seemingly testament to its honest to goodness bowls of porridge which are painstakingly cooked over a charcoal stove.
Occupying a corner unit, Ah Chiang's can take about 30 people or so and tables are on a first come first serve basis, very much like any mom and pop coffee shops around. On both occasions that I went, at 1230pm on a Saturday and 1030am on a Sunday, seats were readily available but I understand that long waits are to be expected especially in the morning.
Intestine Porridge with Meatballs & Century Egg Porridge with Chicken - At $5.50, this was a rather expensive bowl of porridge. The focus was undoubtedly on the porridge, which came across as smooth with bits of grains and didn't seem too starchy. The quantity of ingredients were acceptable at best and if it wasn't for the extra meatballs, the intestines alone would have been a sorry sight. Not that the meatballs or intestines tasted fantastic anyways. I could also detect MSG in the porridge, but I guess that's rather common in porridge nowadays.
The bowl of century egg porridge cost slightly lesser, at $4.50 for a sprinkling of century egg and chicken slices. As with the previous dish, the porridge itself was the star while the century egg and chicken slices were merely average.
Honestly, I found the porridge quite decent overall, just that prices are a tad too steep.
See all my pictures here.
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MYnt is blogshop worthy of visiting simple because of the owner's honesty and humility.
Some other blogshop owners think that they are "high and mighty" just because they can make accessories that people want to buy, and many times, even a small request for changes would be turned down and rejected using the "I would like to preserve my artistic dignity" approach. But this is not the case for MYnt.
I'm not saying that she doesn't protect the rights to alter her work, but she's very nice about it. I took a liking to a pair of earrings but they were 9cm in length which was too long for me, so i asked if she would shorten it to 6cm and even add another shorter 4cm chain. She very kindly did it and sent me a photo of how it looked after alterations.
Best of all, she didn't try to increase the price of the item! Many other blogshop owners will increase the price as long as something even as small as a 4cm length of chains is being added. I think that isn't a very nice thing to do. Which is why i'm commending MYnt for her kindness and for being un-calculative over such matters.
I also ordered another necklace from her. Typically, based on comparisons with several other blogshops that i visit regularly, the necklace i purchased (refer to the 4th photo) could cost from $35 to $48 because of the uniqueness of the design and the various materials used. However, MYnt only charges $15 for the necklace! It looked like something from Betsy Johnson's past-season collection which i was in love with but didn't manage to get! So i knew i HAD to have it!
I like her blogshop because the only thing that's editted are the wordings. Other than that, the photos aren't drastically brightened just to make the accessories look better than they are, which i really appreciate, cuz it can suck when accessories look better on the computer screen and you get so disappointed when you receive it and see it as what it really is. I was very pleased with my purchase when i received them! They actually looked a tiny bit better than in photos.
After i paid the owner, she even thanked me vociferously for supporting the blogshop and that's something that very very few blogshop owners do. And for that, i WILL carry on patronizing MYnt, cuz i think she deserves it.
Do visit MYnt soon! Nice and chic accessories at very affordable prices... you don't even have to think twice about it!
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I was introduced to laneige after seeing some online craze about its water bank series. furthermore, the prices are much cheaper than the original products i was using and thus i switched my stuff to laneige.
i used it for several weeks when one of my friend who worked as a pharmacist saw my products and told me that the ingredients used are very harmful to skin. some of them includes artificial colouring, fragrance, preservatives and alcohol, and it seems like they have used it in large amount in the products. i did some further research online and was quite traumatized by the information i gathered. some ingredients are also used in some car engines?
i immediately called my friend whom i heard was a fan of laneige and was hoping to get some reassurance from her that i was just being too paranoid.
however, she told me that she had an outbreak months back and got some acne products from laneige. and it made the situation worse and she has since stopped using products from the brand. she told me her skin doctor said the initial outbreak could be due to harmful ingredients with her skincare products, causing underlying problems which can only happen after long usage of the products. and she mentioned that her doctor 'hinted' that it could also be due to laneige that causes her situation to get worse after looking through the ingredients.
till now her outbreak has not been cleared and she has been thousands of dollars trying to save her face by seeing some popular skin doctors.
i refuse to take the risk and threw away all my items from laneige. i may be saving money for the time being but who knows i may be like my friend spending much more to solve the skin problems aggrevated.
i know there are still fans of the brand around but im just sharing my opinions
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Phins is one of the place i frequent when i have craving for steaks coz frankly their food is quite alright with reasonable pricing. even though id say that their variety of food other than steaks are quite limited.
Phins @ tampines usually provide pretty efficient services. i do not have to take long to be seated. and food are being served quite quickly.
pricing are alright as the most premium grade beef usually only cost about $30.
generally i think the only but strong attraction point of phins to me is their steak. subsequently their services.
however, there are some cons id have to mention. their medium rare is always not medium rare. hah. it usually come in just medium and its just not as shiok as i wanted it to be.
secondly, theres a particular new waiter who is quite annoying. i wanted to 'upsize' my side dish and top up the amount. i politely ask the waiter if its possible even though i know it IS, from past experience.
but he gave me a super puzzled look and told me its not possible. i further asked him if hes sure and he tried to give me a firm no.
i understand that hes new and he might not know everything so soon. however, id appreciate that he check things out if hes unsure, and not to try to 'entertain' me without finding out.
i had to order from the waiter that i usually place my order with to get what i want :(
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